Fundraising in the Era of COVID-19

Unprecedented.  Uncharted.  Uncertain.

Just a few words being used to describe the times we are navigating as we deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and its fallout.  And, given the degree of uncertainty we continue to face, it’s hard to know exactly what this will mean for Canadian charities and their fundraising.

Organizations must be purposeful in planning how they will recover and set themselves on a path for future growth. And so, as the dust settles and we continue to emerge from this period of the pandemic, it will be imperative for boards and senior management to lead their organizations through visioning and planning exercises. 

In this report, we have endeavoured to create a ‘one-stop shop’ to be used over the next number of months to guide your planning activities. We have compiled our best thinking related to how the pandemic will affect fundraising and philanthropy and identified specific elements that organizations should be examining. We have also provided some advice and guidance about areas beyond fundraising that organizations need to unpack and explore to ensure growth. And finally, there are links to a variety of other resources that you may find helpful as you undertake your thinking and conversations over the next several months.